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C. GEHRING AND C. C CADDEN.

MAIL msrmsunwe APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. 1913- 1,324,247. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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APPLICATION FILED DEC.3|19l3- Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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1,324,247. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3| 1913.

1,324,247. Patented Dem-9,1919.

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ZZ/M/75555 1735172755 C. GEHRING AND C. C. CADDEN.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 3. 1913.

1,324,247. Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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1,324,247. Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

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C. GEHRING AND C. C. CADDEN.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC-3, 19I3.

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. 1913.

1,324,247; Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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1%- 2 J'Z/H/UHS Wad/CM Caalml rg Geh ring C71 07 266 C. Cadden @W X2 W01. @MZ j/[I- ITED s 'ra'rns ra'rnnr orricn.

' .onsl uin ennnme, or PARIS, Finance, AND onantns o. cannnn, or AKRON, OHIO,

AssIe-Nons T MEGHANICAL'EFFIGIENGY cenranner AKRON, 01-110, A oorAn'r- NERSI-IIIP oonsrsrineor B. e. won-i; .ann a". K. irironnizn, some; or annon, onto,

GASIMIR enn'aine, or VANIA.

a rapid and eilicient-system for distributing letters or other mail matter according to the addresses thereon. To this end we provide a trackway and carriers for the mail matter, and means for propelling them along the trackway, and combined with this is a loading station where the mail matter, received from the cancelling machine or other suitable source, is automatically placed, one

article after another, in the respective carriers; then a distribution controlleroperated by a key board and adapted to set mechanism on the respective carriers, according to the addresses, whichare read by the operator' at the keyboard; then a plurality of discharge stations, opposite which the carriers come and which are provided each with one or inore receptacles for the mail matter and have means for causing the carrier to discharge its matter in a receptacle selected by the mechanism upon the carrier, according to the way it has been set by the distribution controller. After the carriers discharge their matter they then continue on their course and automatically come we provide a plurality of side tracks at and adjacent to the distribution controller, and

suitable switch mechanism to direct the carriers successively to these different track ber of addresses substantially with the main track beyond the distribution COiltI'OllGlZ. The means by whlch we accoinplish these results will be hereinafter more fully explained in connection with a convenient embodiment of .the'mvention shown in the drawings.

In the drawings Figure l is a pespective Specification of Letters Fatent.

PARIS, FRANCE, AND C. A. MUNN, 0F RADNOB, PENNSYL-' MAIL-301$TRIB'UTING APPARATUS.

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

Application filed December 3, 1913. Serial No. 804,550.

View showing conventionally our mail distributing apparatus; Fi 2 is a plan view of the loading machine assembled; Fig. 3 IS a side elevation of the same, showing the relative position of a carrier and trackway;

4: is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 0 is an enlarged section of the upper portion of the loading mechanism showing the let-,- ter gripper and the carrier; Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 are details of the letter grippers of the loading mechanism; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the carriers; Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 10 is a: plan of the same; Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 8, showing the mechanism of the carrier adapted to be set according to the address on the letter; Fig. 12 is a vertical cross sectional detail of one'pair of the I came comprising such settable mechanism; Fig. 13 is a: front elevation of the distributing mechanism showing the arrangement of the tracks leading through it and the switchmechanism; Fig. 1-1 is a plan view of the same; Fig. l is a detail in elevationof the mechanism for actuating the rod 196; Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the distributing machine showing the mechanism cooperating with the devices on the carrier to control the destination of letters, also showing key-board controlling such mechanism; Fig. 16 is a plan viewof the same, on a somewhat larger scale, a number of parts being omitted for clearness of illustration; Fig.1? is a wiring diagram showing; an electric connection between the keys and the distributing controlling mechanism; Fig. 18 is a side elevation oi a portion of the tra'ckway showing the cable for propelling the carriers and the method oi driving the same; Fig. 19 is a ilan of this portion of the trackway; Fig. 20 is a side elevation of a. portion of this mechanism on an enlarged scale, showing the means for allowing the carriers to pass this part of the trackway; Fig. 21 is a detail er a portion ofthe same, it being a bottom plan on the same scale as Fig. 20; 1g. 22 is a p'ortionoi the trackway showreiative position of the carrier at a curve. Fig. 23 is a diagramatic .view showing the arrangement of a plurality of tracks leading to and from the, distributing mechanism,

a the arrangement of the cable and the and the method of guiding the cable around this mechanism; Fig. 24 is a side elevation on a somewhat enlarged scale of the switch leading from the main track to the plurality. of tracks adjacent the distributing 'mechanism; Fig.25 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 26 is a plan of a portion of the trackway at the entrance to the loading machine showing the device for operating the clutch which controls the drivin of the loading mechanism; Fig. 27 is a iront elevation of the mechanism for causing the carrier to discharge the letter, showing the relative position of the carrier as it passes this device; Fig. 28 is a sectional side GlBVLtlOIhOf a portion of this device showing the relative position of the trackway and the receptacle for the letter, and indicating the carrier 1n dot and dash lines; F 29 is a horizontal section taken through this device and through a portion of the carrier, showing the relative position of the cams as they act to discharge the letter; Fig. 30 is a horizontal section looking upwardly through the resetting station located beyond the discharge stations, this view, which is taken on the line 3030 of Fig. 31, showing the carrier positioned to have the cams reset; Fig. 31 is a front elevation of a mechanism for resetting the cams on the carriers after they have leftthe discharge stations; Fig. 32 is a cross section of the trackway, showing one of the cable supports; Figs. .33 and 34: are details of the mechanism for controlling the driving of the distributing machine.

Referring to Fig. 1, the general arrangement of our distributing device is here con vention-ally illustrated. The reference numeral 1, indicates the trackway along which carriers 2 are driven to carry the individual pieces of mail 4 from the cancelling machine to the receptacle corresponding to their destination. The carriers are driven along the trackway by the cable 5, which is suitably guided midway between two members of the trackway. The cable is not shown in Fig. 1 except at the point where it i driven by means of a motor 6.

These carriers are driven along the trackway to a point opposite a small belt 7 which wipes the letters from a common pile, one at a time, and moves them toward a belt 8 which picks them up and carries them to a position where they may be grasped by suitable grippers on the belt 9 of the loading machine 10. These grippers bring the letter to a proper position under a carrier, which moves along the trackway adjacent the belt 9. Suitable mechanism causes the grippers on the carriers to engage the letter, which is then carried along the trackw'ay to the distributing mechanism indicated at 12.

On each of these carriers is a mechanism having a series of variably collocatable elements adapted to be set in diiierent, combinations or arrangementsto control the discharge irom the carriers. As shown this rearrange-able mechanism consists of a series of setta'ble tumblers or cams adapted to operate the grippers holding the letter. These cams project from the sides of the carrier and are adapted to be engaged by projecting fingers in the distributing machine, which moves some of them to a set position, leaving a certain combination projecting outwardly to be engaged by corresponding projections at the discharge station corresponding to the address on the letter.

When the carrier reaches one of the discharge stations, indicated at 14, of which there may be any number, the remaining projecting cams are moved inwardly by means of the series of stationary finger arranged to correspond to the-combination of projecting cams on the carrier. This brings all the cams toa releasing position, causing the letter to be released and allowing it to drop into the proper receptacle. The carrier still continues on its course, being driven by the cable 5, and returns to the loading machine where it receives another piece of mail matter.

In order that the distributing mechanism may be operated rapidly. a series of side tracks 15 are provided preferably one be neath the other. These bring the carriers to a reading position, where several addresses (at least 3 or 4) may be read at a glance, allowing the operator to depress corresponding keys of the key-board 16 in rapid succession. Each of these keys controls collocating mechanism which effects a certain collocation or rearrangement oi cams on the carrier, the particular combination thus selected determining the station at which the letter will be released. The carriers are caused to enter these side tracks 15 by means of a "switch 17 which is so arranged that it allows the carriers to enter each side track in turn. At the rightof the distributing machine, the side tracks 15 merge again in a suitable manner, with the main track 1.

The foregoing is a brief description of the general arrangement of our mail distributing mechanism and the plan upon which the distributing apparatus is constructed. It outlines the manner in which we accomplish the objects of the invention. The apparatus is hereinafter described in detail, each of the parts being taken up in the following order, namely: the loading mechanism 10; the construction of the trackway 1 and the arrangement of the driving cable; the construction and operation of the distributing mechanism 12, the carrier 2, and the devices located at each discharge station for causing the piece of mail matter to be released.

The frame of the loading mechanism commachine, is a vertical shaft 30 carrying a large fiat-faced pulley 31. At the other end of the machine mounted in a bearing 32 carried by one of the cross members 22 and a bearing 33, at thelower portion of the frame (Fig. 4) is a second vertical shaft 35 which carries asi-milar flat-faced pulley36 corre sponding to the pulley '31. Over these two pulleys runsa belt 38 which is periodically driven at the ame speed as the carriers on the tra-ckway 1, and on which are mounted grippers, hereinafter described, which are adapted to engage the letter or piece of mail matter and- 'bring" it to a position to be gripped by the carrier. p

. Alined withthe shaft 35 is a shaft 37 carrying a pulley 39, which is driven constantly by a suitable motor 40, through a. belt 41. A clutch indicated at 42is adapted to drive the upper portion of the shaftto rotate the pulley 36 anddrive the belt 38 for a portion of a rotation whenever a carrier 2 enters the machine. 1

Referring to Figs. 4 and 26, the means for controlling this clutch is a cam 4:4: carried on a rock arm 45, pivotally carried on a bracket 46. This cam moves outwardly when a carrier passes it, and presses downwardly on an arm, 47 which depresses a link 4-8 connected to a lever l9 which is connected to the clutch member 50 of the clutch 42. This downward movement connects the shaft 35 with the motor which drives all of the parts of the loading mechanism,while .one piece of mail matter is being transferred from the commonpile to the carrier.

After each carrier has received a letter, the belt 38, having moved a portion of a rotation, the clutch is disengaged by a spring finger 51, on the opposed member engaging the lever 49 and raising the upper clutch member 50. Thus the machine is not operated to pick up letters except when operated by carriers. The size of the pulleys 31 and 36 may have such a relation to the required amount of movement of the belt 38 that a rotation or equal part thereof, may be given to the clutch at each actuation. If the carriers follow each other in regular succession, the clutch will be held into engagement by a carrier engaging the cam 44 causing the spring finger 51 to pass idly under the lever 49, thus causing the machine to be driven constantly whilethere is a supply of carriers. The spring finger 51 stands normally in an upright position, and is of sufficient strength to throw the clutch out of engagement except when held in engagement by a carrier as just described. A spring 52, attachedto the lever 49 and to the frame, acts to hold these parts normally in inoperative position. i

.The letters are taken from a common pile 53 at the auxiliary frame of the loading machine, where they are fanned out against atoothed stop 54 carried by one of the members 27 of the frame. This toothed member prevents the letters jamming or wedging against the belt 55, which feeds the letters to a belt 56, running in the same direction, to carry the letters to a position indicated by dot and dash lines at 57, Fig. 3, from where they are transferred to the carrier. Th'ebelts 55 and 56 run over suitable pulleys 58 and 59. The two pulleys 58 are mounted on stub shafts carried on small cross members of the frame, and the two pulleys 59 are mounted on the upper end of substantially vertical shafts 60, which have their lower ends suitably journaled at 61 and carry at their intermediate portions [pulleys, over which runs a short belt 62 driving these two shafts in unison. On the upper portion of one of these shafts is a pulley 64 which is driven by a belt 65 running over a suitable pulley on the shaft 35. l

The belts 55 and 56 are made in twoiparts separated to leave openings between them, indicated at 68 and 69. Now when the ma chine is started, theletters or other pieces of mail matter are wiped off one at a time, from the common pile 53, and passed along to the belt 56 where they are gripped between the belt and a yielding wall 70, held by leaf springs 71 against the belt 56. This belt moves the letters to the position indicated at 57.

This movement, however, from the common pile to the position 57, is interrupted twice by stop fingers7t, (Figs. 3 and i).

7 These fingers have inwardly curved lower ends adapted to enter the openings 68 and 69 between the two portions of the belts 55 and 56, and they are mounted on a rock shaft 7 5 which is carried by bracket arms 76, mounted on one of the longitudinal membore 27. This rock shaft is operated after each letter is taken from the position 57, by means (to be hereinafter described) on the belt 38. This draws the curved ends out from between the belts allowing each piece of mail. matter to advance to the next position against the next stop finger 74. Thus a short-movement of these belts and 56 brings the next letter to the position 57 forming a bifurcated portion in which is carried a pivot pin 83. (Figs. 5, 6 and 7). Pivotally mounted on this pin 83 are two pairs of spring gripping fingers 84 and 85 adapted to contact with each other at their outer ends. The pair 84 are bent inwardly and made rigid with bearing members 86 on the pin 83. The outer pair 85 are made rigid with corresponding bearings 87 on the pin 83. The bearing members 86 are made rigid with a bridge 88, and the bearing members 87 with a similar bridge 89, each extending on the opposite side of the pin 83 from the fingers, and adapted to be engaged by a cam, as indicated at 90 in Fig. 6, to spread the fingers for releasing the piece of mail matter. A spring 91, coiled around the pivot pin 83 and having each end in engagement with one of the bridges, gives the fingers their gripping action. Accordingly, these gripping fingers normally press toward each other except when the bridges 88 and 89 are separated by the cam 90.

As the fingers are moved by the belt 38 toward the position 57, of the piece of mail matter, these bridges are engaged by the cam 90 to raise the outer pair of fingers. This cam is carried on a light circular frame, comprising a lower member 92, semicircular in form, carried by vertical members 93 depending from a semicircular member 94, carried by the frame of the machine. This cam 90 causes the outer pair of fingers to move outwardly and upwardly so that as they are brought in their arcual path to the letter, in the position 57 the inner pair come in contact with the letter and at this point the bridge passes off of the cam allowing the outer fingers to spring downwardly, thus grasping the letter between them.

When the letter is thus gripped by the gripping fingers, the fingers are raised from their normally depending position to bring the letter to a vertical position above the pivot of the fingers, where it is gripped by the gripper of the carrier. This is accomplished in the following manner. Mounted on the side of one of the fingers 85 of each of the grippers, is an arm 96 having a bifurcated end 98 adapted to engage a rod 99, which is arranged in a spiral about the path of the axis of the pivot pin 83, of the gripping fingers. As this bifurcated end 98 comes onto the rod 99 and is advanced along this rod, by the movement of the belt 38, the fingers are swung upwardly from the position indicated at the left, in Fig.3, to the position indicated at the right in this figure. This rod is suitably supported by supporting studs, as indicated at 100 in Figs. 4 and 5, attached to the frame and to this spiral rod 99 at such an angle that the bifurcated end 98, may pass them freely.

Depending from the carriers 2, is a vertical movable foot 102 which when pressed upwardly causes the gripping fingers 104 of the carrier toengage the letter, as will be hereinafter described. To conveniently provide for raising this foot with relation to the carrier to cause such gripping, the trackway 1 passes through the loading machine at an angle as in Fig. 3. Now when the carrier arrives at the position shown at the right in Fig. 3, the gripping fingers 84, 85 have brought the letter to a position where it may be grasped by the grippers of the carrier, and the forward movement of the carrier causes the foot 102 to ride upon a projection 105 of a bracket 106, mounted on the belt 38 just ahead of the gripping fingers, when engaged by the foot 102. This projection 105 is supported, to prevent twisting the belt 38, on a short horizontal trackway 108, rigidly mounted in the frame of the machine, since the carrier is moved downwardly on its forward movement by the inclination of the track, moving this foot upwardly and causing the grips 104 to engage the letter.

Now when the grips 104 have engaged the letter, the carrier continues its movement along the trackway and the bridge portions 88 and 89 of the gripping fingers 84 and 85 engage a cam 110 similar to the eam90 and similarly mounted in a frame 111. This cam causes the outer pair of fingers (the opposite pair from the pair swung outwardly during the gripping) to swing outwardly allowing the fingers to be carried around the pulley 31, without interfering with the forward movement of the letter in the carrier.

It will be seen from Fig. 3, that the belts 55 and 56 are inclined with relation to the belt 38 at an angle substantially equal to that of the trackway 1, but upwardly on approaching the machine, instead of downwardly. This provides for the letters being brought to the gripping fingers at a slight angle, which, when the gripping fingers are raised from their lower to their upper position, causes the letter to be presented to the carriers 2 at an angle substantially equivalent to the angle at which the carrier stands with the rest of the machine. In other words, this presents the letter to the carrier so that it will be properly positioned in the same.

To synchronize the movements of the carriers and belt 38, it is convenient to provide projections 114, rigid with the brackets 106 and extending into the path of the carriers to insure the belt being moved in unison with them. These'brackets 106 are mounted at intervals around the belt v38 at the proper distance ahead of the gripping fingers to insure the letter being properly positioned in the carriers.

Mounted on the under side of the projections 105, are small cams 112, Fig. 4,

to the distributing mechanism.

channels 115, which receive running blocks 116, (Fig. 27) mounted on the carrier. The channel members 115, may be supported by suitable bridge-like members indicated at 118 (Fig. 22). These extend over thetops of the two channels, allowing the carriers to pass beneath them, and may be supported from the ceiling or from the floor in any convenient manner.

The cable 5 is guided midway between the channels by supports 121, (Figs. 22 and 32) mounted on either of the channels, and having a cam-like portion 122 adapted to spread grippers 124, which are pivotally mounted on the top of'the carrier, and act to engage the cable to move the carrier with it. These grippers are best shown in Figs. '8, 9 and 10, and are preferably made of two upright portions 125, which flare away from the cable, as at 126 to provide for the grippers being spread when they pass the cable supports 121. The upright portions 125 and 126 are preferably made rigid with horizontal members 128 pivoted to the top of the carrier, as at 129. These grippers are caused to pinch the cable by means of springs 130, causing the carriers to be drawn by the cable. At the rear, or side to the right, these upright members 125 have an abrupt edge, as shown in Fig. 10, which is adapted to engage shoulders formed in the cable by the diiferences in diameter, occurring at regular intervals throughout its length. Such shoulders are shown in Figs. 8 and 10 at 132, there being a short comparatively small diameter of the cable 133 and a larger diameter 134 ateither side thereof. These smaller diameters preferably occur about every two feet throughout its length,

although they may be spaced any distance. This keeps the carriers regularly spaced, which greatly facilitates the operation of my device.

Thesupports or guides, 121, do not interfere with the progress of the carrier because the flaring portions 126 of the grippers are momentarily spreadby the cam 122, which allows them to pass the support by the momentum of the carrier, and grip the cable, at substantially the same place on the other side of the cable support.

To conveniently guide the cable around the curves in the trackway so that the progress of the carriers will not be impeded,

the channels forming the trackway may be bowed outwardly, as at 136 so that a portion of the inner channel is brought into alinement with the center line of the trackway, (as at 137, Fig. 22). Guide pulleys 138 across which the cable may run, are mounted at short intervals around the curve of the inner channel. The carrier in passing around the curve, is propelled by the en gagement of one of the grippers with the cable, as shown in Fig. 22, and it will be seen that as the carrier comes onto the straight portion of the trackway, both grippers will again engage the cable at their middle position. i

We prefer to make the cable endless, ex" tending throughout the circuit of the trackway. To drive this cable, we lead it away from the trackway by means of two pulleys 1&0 and ldl, (Figs. 18 and 19) supported by a suitable frame 142 and so positioned that the cable is guided away from and back to the normal position in the middle of the trackway. From the pulley 140 the cable is lead Over a pulley 14% mounted on a shaft 145 supported by a hanger 146 and driven by any suitable means from a belt 147 running over apulley 148.

Thus it will be seen that the cable, run- H ning over the pulley 144, may be driven throughout itslength from the same source of power. The frame 142 may be conveniently supported by suspension rods 1 13, suitably attached to the ceiling. To provide for-a uniform tension on the cable, I mount the pulley 14t1 in two slidable journals 119 on horizontal members 150, of the frame 142, and attach a cord 152 to the frame and to a pulley 154;, carried by the shaft 155 of the pulley 141. To this cord 152 is attached a weight 156 which tends to more the shaft 155 carrying the pulley 141, to

the right, thus pulling on the cable throughout its length.

The carriers pass the pulleys 14:1 and 140,

in the same manner thatthey pass the cable supports 121; that is a cam or spreader 158 slightly wider that these pulleys, tapering to a point at each end, as at 159, in Fig. 21, is mounted directly below them. As the carriers approach this portion of the trackway, the grippers are spread by the tapered portion of this spreader and they pass both the pulleys by the momentum of the car .riers, slide off from the spreader at the opposite end and again grip the table.

7 The method of switching the carriers at the entrance to the side tracks of the distributing mechanism, is hereinafter described, in connection with the distributing machine. The distributing mechanism is shown principally in Figs. 13, 14, 15 and V 16, in connection with a wiring diagram,

Fig. '17. Referring to these figures the mechanism 1s mounted 1n a sultable frame comprising vertical members 160, longitu dinal, horizontal members 161 and various cross members 162, which form an oblong vertical frame; near one end of this frame, short horizontal members 164 project laterally from the members 161 and are supported at their outer ends by vertical members 165, which are connected by short longitudinal members 166, thus forming two side wings of the frame, adapted to support mechanism which is hereinafter described.

The side tracks 15 lead downwardly from the main trackway at the switch 17, then horizontally through the machine, the channels of the trackway being suitably sup ported by the frame just described, and then merge with the main trackway as they leave the machine. Fig. 23 illustrates this arrangement of the trackway and the manner of guiding the driving cable 5 around the distributing mechanism. A pair of pulleys 167 lead the cable away from the switch 17, and pulleys 168 lead the cable back to the trackway, which rises at 169 to the general level of the trackway. The upper side tracks lead downwardly to merge with the lower side track at 177, as they pass out of the machine at the right. A series of three pulleys 181 lead the cable parallel with the rising portion 169 and allow it to pass along the general level of the trackway.

It is to be understood that suitable means are provided for allowing these carriers to pass these pulleys, similar to the spreader 158, described in connection with Figs. 20 and 21.

The description and operation of the entry switch 17 is as follows; It comprises two parallel channel members 170 and 171 pivoted to the channels of the main trackway at 172 and 173, and connected at their free ends by a bridge member 174. A. suit able frame comprises vertical members 175, rising from the pivots 172 and 173 and rigidly attached to longitudinal members 176. These are rigid at their opposite ends, with vertical studs 178, and have arcual extensions 179 at their lower ends to which the ends of the side tracks 15 are attached, as at 180. To these horizontal members 176, springs 182 are attached, each having their lower ends attached to one of the members 170 and 171. These cause the switch memhere 170 and 171 to swing upwardly to conessee? of the carrier with the inner arm 186 of these latches, swings the other end inwardly releasing the extension and allowing the springs to pull the switch members upwardly until the extension is engaged by the next stop 185, thereby connecting the switch members with the next side track above.

After the switch members reach the uppermost trackway and the carrier passes through he switch onto this trackway, thence into the distributing mechanism, a spreader 188 is brought into the path of the cable grippers on the carriers. This spreader 188 is pivotally carried by small parallel arms 189 mounted on rock shafts 190 and 191. These rock shafts are supported by short vertical struts 192, rigid with the channels of the trackway. The rock shaft 191 has, at one end, a rock arm 194. pivotally connected with an arm 195 which is rigidly carried on the switch member 171. This arm 195 is suitably slotted to allow the sliding of the pivotal connection. with the arm 194:.

Thus it will be seen that when the switch members reach the topmost position, the spreader 188 will be in its lowermost position, where it will engage the cable grippers of the next carrier to disengage them from the cable. While the spreader is in this position, no more carriers will enter the distributing mechanism, because each carrier disengages the grippers of the carrier behind it, from the cable, as they abut each other, by means hereinafter described.

The carriers accumulate in columns or panels, one above another on the side tracks and these panels of carriers are moved by steps through the distriluiting mechanism from the entry position to a reading position in front of the key board 16 and then to a discharging position from which they are moved out of the machine one at a time. each carrier having its cams set in a combination corresponding to the address of the letter carried thereby, as hereinafter described.

When the distributing mechanism has discharged all of the carriers from the discharging position, a rod 196 connected with the arm 198 also rigid with the switch member 171, pulls the "switch members to their lowermost position where they are held by the lowermost catch 185. The rod 196 is attached to a lever 197 which is in directly operated by the carrier in the uppermost trackway, asis hereinafter described. The extension 184 is suitably beveled at its outer end at 199, which pushes each catch out of its path in the downward movement, but catches under them on the upward move ment, as described.

In the arrangement shown, when four carriers have entered the distributing machine, t-l11O1l 1 the switch. these four carriers arrange themselves in a vertical column or panel one above the other and therethey come-under the control of sprocket chains 200, which have evenly spaced projections 201 rigidly carried thereon, and adapted to 204: carried'on vertical shafts'206 and 207 respectively. These shafts are suitably journaled at their upper and lower endsin bearings 208 supported on the frame of the machine. These sprocket wheels are mounted rigidly on the respective shafts causing the carriers to be moved as a unit toward the right by steps, from the entry po sition to the reading position, and then to the discharging position, under the control p of the operator, as is hereinafter described.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 207 is anothe set of four similar sprocket wheels 210, over which fourother sprocket chains 211 run, which. also run :on sprocket wheels 1 212 loosely mounted on the shaft 214." These sprocket chains are each adjacent and below one s1de of a s1de track, andcarry pro ections 215 similar to the projections 201 also adapted to engage the carrier, as indicated 1n Flg. 16. These ohalns 211 may be driven oneat a time, from the shaft 211by means" of slidable clutch members 216, adapted to engage corresponding clutch members 217,

rigid with each oflthe sprocket'wheels 212;.

These clutch members 216 aresuitably splinedto the shaft 214:; accordingly, when one is raised into engagement with the clutch member of a sprocket wheel,- this sprocket wheel is driven and the chain passing'over itisdriven to thus move one of the carriers from the discharging position to the right, out of'the machine.

5 When the four carriers are arranged in a Ipanelat the left of the mach1ne, they are moved one step to the right from the entry position to the reading position, where the letters carried by them may be read by the operator from the front of the machine. From the reading position they are moved againv to the right, to the discharging Tpo-. sition where they may belengaged by the sprocket chains 211, and discharged one at atime. a a t The operator reads the addresses on the letters, then presses one'sof tl1e:keys of the key-board 16 whichacts to clutch the uppermost of the sprockets 212, with the shaft 211,

by means ofthe clutch 216 andother mechanism, to be descrlbed, moving a. chain 211 and causing the car'rier on the adjacent trackway to be moved from the reading *position to the discharging 'positionand thence out of the machine. At the same 1 time the by a suitable motor 226.

clutched with the shaft 214.

other carriers in the reading position are moved to the'dlscharglng position, and the three following depressions of keys of the keyboard actuate the three other chains 211 dlschargmg these carriers from the machme p reading position to the discharge position. andthe shaft 207 is intermittentlydriven,

The shaft 214C is driven as follows: At its lower end is a beveled gear 220, meshing with a beveled gear 221 on a horizontal shaft 222, which carries at its opposite end a put ley 224 driven by a belt 225, driven in turn The motor, the shaft 221, and theshaft 214 are running constantly and the mechanism of the machine is adapted to be driven periodically therefrom, by means of the clutches 216.

A suitable fly wheel 227 is provided on the upper end of the shaft 21 1 to insure the parts being instantly set in motion when Connected with each of these clutch members 216, is a bifurcated lever 228 having a suitable engagement with the clutch member so that it may slide it along the shaft 214. Each of these levers is pivoted to a vertical member mounted in the frame of the machine and pivotally connected all its rear end to vertical links 230. These links 230 are guided at their lower ends by means of levers 231 pivoted to a longitudinal member of the ma- (Figs. 13 and 33), rigidly mounted on-a sleeve 235 on the shaft 222.. This sleeve 235 is driven by theshaft 222 by means of a frictional engagement therewith, sufficient to operate the clutch members through the levers described, but allowing the shaft 222 to turn insidethe sleeve when an escapement wheel 236 is engaged by an escapement pallet 237, (Figs. 13, 15 and 3 1). This wheel 236 "is rigid with the sleeve 235 and the escapement pallet-237 is carried by 'a lever 238 pivoted at 239 to a portion of the frame of the machine. At the lower end of this lever 238 is an armature 240 adapted to be at tracted by a magnet'242 mounted on the frame and so connectedin asuitable electrical circuit, indicated at 243, i that the depressing of any key in the keyboard energizes this magnet 242, attracting the armature 2 10 and operating the escapement, Val-- lowing the disks 23 to rotate-a quarter turn,

which operates one of the links 230 thus operating one of the clutches to drive one of the chains 211. The disks 234 are provided with notches 245 which allow the links 230 to drop. under the influence of the spring 232, thus raising the clutch members through the levers The escapement wheel 236 is conveniently provided with four teeth as shown in Fig. 34. Thus a complete rotation of each of these disks causes each of the clutches 216 to be actuated, which moves four carriers successively from the discharging position,

through the cam setting mechanism and out of the machine.

Levers 252 carrying cams 251 in the path of the carriers are connected by a link 254 and operate clutches 253 connecting the sprockets 210 with the shaft 207. Thus a carrier on any trackway may unclutch the upper sprocket 210 and at the same time move the link 254 thereby operating the lever 197, rod 196 and arm 198, for resetting the switch member 17 to its lowermost position.

The fingers 218 adapted to set the cams on the carriers, stand normally in the path of these cams, there being any convenient number of fingers on aside, arranged in a vertical column just beneath each trackway. These fingers have rods 260 extending away from the trackway at either side and pivotally connected at the ends away from the trackway with levers 262. These levers 262 are rigidly mounted on the vertical shafts 264, there being one of these levers 262 for each of the fingers 218 in each set adjacent each trackway, that is, four levers 262 on each of the shafts 264. Near the lower ends of each of the shafts 264 is an arm 266, carrying an armature adapted to be attracted by the magnets 267 each of which is connected to the key-board. One or several of these magnets is energized by the depression of each key. A convenient arrangement of these magnets 267 is one above the other and each nearer the center of the machine than the one below, as shown in Fig. 15. This allows the shafts 264 to be arr. nged one behind the other. There may be any convenient number of these shafts and magnets. As shown, eight are used, which provides for eight fingers 218 on each side of the trackway, each one being actuated by a separate shaft 264 under thecontrol of one of the magnets 267. Fig. 16 shows two of these shafts 264 near the front and two near the rear-the rest of the shafts (illustrated in Fig. 15), being omitted for clearness.

Each of these magnets, as before stated, is connected by suitable electric circuits, as indicated at 268 in Figs. 15 and 16, with various keys of the key-board, which are so arranged that the depression of one key closes one or more circuits,- energizing correspond ing magnets which pull on the, armature arms 266, drawing outwardly on the levers 262, thus drawing the corresponding finger 218 out of the path of the corresponding cam on the carrier. Thus, when a certain key is depressed, a certain combination, that is, a number of fingers on one side, in certain positions, and a number of fingers on the-other side in certain positions, are set in each of the groups of fingers 218 or withdrawn from the path of the cams 27 0 on the carriers, so that a carrier on any of the side tracks 15 would have its cams set by the remaining fingers for a combination corresponding tov the address indicated by the key depressed. These combinations change at once in each of the four groups adjacent to each trackway with the depression of every key in the keyboard.

Any convenient arrangement of the wiring from the key board 16 to the magnets 267 may be used. We show a convenient arrangement of the circuits in Fig. 17, in which the keys are indicated at 275, the Set ting fingers at 218, the armatures at 266, and the magnets controlling said armatures at 267. A suitable source of electricity is indicated at 276 and the escapement pallet 237 is conventionally shown as operated by its magnet 242, which may be conveniently arranged in a common supply wire 280. Each of the keys 275 is connected directly to this common supply 280 and the depression of a key closes a circuit through a contact 281,

a wire 282, and one of the vertical wires 284, which lead through the magnets 267 and back to the common return; Some of these magnets 267 are energized by means of wires 285, and others through wires 287 to relays 288, the operation of which will be presently described.

Now, when one of the keys, for example the one indicated at 275*, is depressed, it completes a circuit from the battery through the magnet 242, the common supply 280 and through the contact 281", the wire 285* to V the magnet 267 through the wire 289 to the adjacent magnet 267*, through the wire 290 to the magnet 267,and through a wire 292 to the common return 280 to the battery 276. This energizes three magnets, inclicated by 267, 267 and 267, which withdraws, for example, the three upper fingers 218 on one side of the. trackway. This leaves the other fingers in the path of the cams 270 of the carrier, which are accordingly set, (moved inwardly, as will be described,) and the combination thus set would be the three upper cams on one side of the carrier remaining out, to be acted upon at the discharge station.

. Some of the keys 275 may close two circuits when depressed, as, for example, the key 275, which, when depressed, closes the circuit from the. battery through the com.-

mon supply 280, through the contact 281, the wire 282?, the wire 284?, the wire 285 the magnet 267 and the magnet 267 and back through the common return. At the same time, the switch 275 closes a circuit through the contact295, the wire 296, the

wire 2844 and the wire 285 the three magnets in icated at 267 which are connected by wires 297 and 298 respectiyely, and back through thewirc 292 to the common return.

.Thus it will be seen that the two magnets at the upper left (in the diagram) and those in the fourth, fifth and sixth positions,

counting from the top on the left side, would be energized to withdraw corresponding fingers from the path of the cams of the carriers, allowing the others to remain in the path to act on these carrier cams.

' The series of magnets 267 at the right may represent magnets at the right of the machine, controlling fingers at the right of the trackway, and these magnets are operated 288, closing the circuit through a contact 298, connected to the wire 297 leading from a branch 292 of the common return by means of an armature 300, a wire 301, a wire 302, a wire 304, through themagnets 267 connected by a wire 307 and a common supply wire 305. This operates the upper two magnets at the right of the diagram through the relay 288. Atthe same time, this key closes a circuit from the common supply 280 through the contact 281 a wire 28%, and a-wire 285 through the magnet 267, the

7 wire 292 and the common return 280 thus operating one of the magnets at theright of the diagram. It will be seen that, by the use of relays, the cam setting fingers may be operated on one side of the trackway, and, by the use of wiring, first described, the magnets operating the cam setting fingers at the other side of the trackway may be energized. It will also be seen that almost any desired number of combinations may be obtained, as the number ofmagnets and setting fingers may be readily increased, it being only necessary to contmue the arrangement of the wiring to increase the clrcuits for the additional combinations made possible by the larger number.

To increase the number of combinations possible in the magnets, at t he right of the diagram, with the use of a similar arrangement of the wiring, we provide a plurality of armature contacts for some of the magnets 288, as indicated at 300 These may close circuits through a plurality of the wires 302 and energize a larger number of the magnets, under the control of the relay, at the depression of any key operating that relay. r

The wiring diagram shown herewith is illustrative of one or many convenient arrangements. Only a few of the possible combinations and the circuits operating them have been described. It is thought, however, that these illustrate the arrangement of the wiring. The magnets 267*, which are indicated without showing complete circuits connecting them, are to illustrate that the number of magnets and combinations might be continued indefinitely. A convenient arrangement of the settable cams on the carrier is shown in Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, 27 and 29, which will now be 1 described in connection with the letter grip ping mechanism of the carrier, The carrier 2 comprises a top plate 310 rectangular in form and somewhat narrower than the space between the panels for the trackway and has at the rear downward projections 312, t opposite corners of which are journaled rock shafts 313 having their other ends in similar depending projections 315. Mounted on these rock shafts are slidable sleeves 316, each having a slot 318 in engagement with a pin 319, which sleeves may slide on the shaft but may be turned thereby. These sleeves carry the letter gripping fingers 10st and may be rotated tospread these fingers apart, as indicated in Fig. 9, or may rotate to bring the fingers together, as indicated in dot-and-dash lines at 104 These sleeves 316 are held normally in their forward posi tion by means of compression springs 320 surrounding the shafts and interposed between depending projections 312, and the end of a rectangular frame having its ends 17 slidable on the shafts and engaging these sleeves and having its sides 321 (Fig. 9)

bowed outwardly to be engaged by brakes at the discharge stations.

Rigidly mounted in the forward end of these rock shafts 313 are small crank arms 322 extending radially and then bent longitudinally to present the free ends to a slot 324 in a slidable plate 325, carrying the foot 102, heretofore mentioned, and slidable in suitable ways 327, formed at the rear of a box-like frame 328 depending from the top plate of the carrier.

This box-like frame of the carrier has a bottom plate 330 which supports the settable cams 270, and in which is journaled the lower end of a shaft 332, on which these cams are pivoted The cams comprise a partially circular portion 333, disk-like in form and lying one upon the other. From each of these circular portions extends a substantially radial arm 335 having a rounded portion at its outer end 336 adapted to engage the setting fingers 218 and the cams of the discharge mechanism, as will be hereinafter described.

' From the rounded portion 336 the arm extends rearwardly to a substantially radial shoulder 337 formed by rearwa-rdly extending portions 338 of each can'i. Now, when the cams are engaged by the setting fingers, they are moved rearwardly to a position which moves the shoulders 33? past the center line and allows a narrow vertical trigger 340 to move forwardly to actuate the releasing of the letter, as will be described. The rearwardly extending portions 338 of each of the cams has an arcual surface formed about the-center of the shaft 332 which normally abuts the trigger 340; thus any one of the cams in the normal position indicated in Fig. 11 prevents the forward movement of this trigger and accordingly prevents the actuating of the releasing mechamsm.

This trigger 340 is carried on an arm 342 pivoted on the shaft 343 mounted in the upper portion of the box-like frame The arm 342 is offset from the trigger portion 340, thus presenting a horizontal shoulder 344 which is engaged by a catch 346 mounted on a. leaf spring 347 and extending through a slot in said slidable plate 325.

When the foot 102 is moved upwardly by the projection 105 carried on the main belt of the loading mechanism, it slides the plate 325 upwardly rocking the shafts 313 and causing the fingers 104 to grip the letter as described. In this position said catch 346 stands over a shoulder 344 and securely holds said gripping fingers in engagement with the letter. When all of the cams have been moved to the rearward position described, allowing the trigger 340 to be moved forwardly, the shoulder 344 comes out from under the catch 346, the trigger being moved forwardly under the influence of a coil spring 348 on the shaft 343, allowing the plate 325 to be dropped slightly which brings the foot 102 to a position to be engaged by a means, to be hereinafter described, for pulhng it downwardly to release the letter.

The fingers 104 are made resilient and the pressure on one or the other tends to rock the shaft, which exerts a spring pressure on the rock arms 322, acting downwardly on the sliding plate 325, quickly pressing it and the foot 102 downwardly when the trigger releases the catch 346.

The cams 270 are provided with annular grooves 350 arranged one in the top of one cam registering with one in the bottom of the cam above. This provides an annular space for a coil spring 351, Figs. 11 and 12. having one forwardly turned end 352 in one cam and the other forwardly turned end in engagement with the other cam. This spring tends to return the cams to their normal position, that is with the arms 336 projecting laterally, as in Fig. 11. In this position the arms engage the edge of vertical catch plates 354, pivotally mounted on vertical rock shafts 355 which limit the forward movement of the arms, causing them to stand in their normal position. On the periphery of the portion 333 of each'cam, is a shoulder formed by a projection 356 which is adapted to engage the edges of these catch plates 354 when the cams are set clear back to their idle position, by means of the setting fingers. When a carrier passes out of the distributing machine, one or sev eral of these cams are set back by the setting fingers, and these shoulders, one on each cam adapted to engage its respective catch plate, are engaged by said plates and the shoulders 337 stand out of the path of the trigger which'then abuts only the cams in the normal or active position; Now when the carrier reaches the proper dischar e station, 7

these remaining projecting cams are ongaged and pressed rearwardly, bringing all of the shoulders out of the path of the trigger, allowing it to mov forwardly, releasing the catch 346, thus allowing the foot 102 to drop causing the gripping fingers to release the letter, described. The means for actuating these cams at the discharge station, will now be described.

Mounted on the channels 115 of the trackway, at each discharge station, is a U shaped member 360 having a cross member 361 bridging the channels and having shoulders 362 in engagement with th under side of the channels and depending portions 363 extending downwardly somewhat lower than the foot 102 of the carrier and having thereon cam-like projections 365. These cam-like projections are beveled at their forward sides, as at 366 and are positioned to engage th rounded portions 336 on the arms of the cams 270, and as the carrier moves past these cams, the arms are pressed rearwardly far enough to bring the shoulders 337 out of the path of the trigger 340 and when the right discharge station is reached, the combination of the outstanding carriers will all be pressed rearwardly allowing the trigger to move forwardly, releasing the let- 

